News Story

Mormon Helping Hands Sends Thousands into California Parks

Tens of thousands of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dressed in their distinctive yellow Mormon Helping Hands vests and T-shirts, were seen statewide in California 8 May painting, power washing, trail grooming, rebuilding fences, replacing roof shingles and picking up trash.

For video of volunteer efforts at Griffith Park, the McKinley Home for Boys School and Jesse Owens Regional Park, click here.

Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Church’s Quorum of the Seventy said this latest effort led by Latter-day Saints reinforces their love for cities throughout the state they helped establish in the 1840s.

“We want to follow Jesus Christ’s example of service to others by helping to improve the communities in which we live, especially during these tough economic times for local and state governments.”

An organized corps of at least 70,000 enthusiastic workers partnered with other community volunteers to beautify California’s state, regional and city parks from top to bottom.

“It’s so important for us all to take pride in our communities and help make a difference within them,” said U.S. Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, who participated in the day of service. “With everyone working together on painting, planting and other improvements, not only does it make a difference, but it saves a great deal of money by way of volunteers’ time.”

Service opportunities were performed in nearly 200 parks throughout the state.

Media coverage of projects from San Francisco to San Diego was numerous.

Los Angeles Times: Mormon clean-up effort sweeps Los Angeles area and the state

The Oakland Tribune: Helping Hands' project put 75,000 church volunteers to work

Sacramento Bee: Mormon volunteers tackle park cleanup projects

Whittier Daily News: Whittier LDS members clean up at local parks

Contra Costa Times: Volunteers flock to clean Redlands

The Press-Enterprise: Hundreds clean parks in Redlands

The Santa Maria Times: Mormons lend a hand in Nipomo

The Modesto Bee: Mormons lead area-wide park restoration effort

Ventura County Star: Church volunteers put in day cleaning parks

North County Times: Helping hands in Escondido

Glendale News Press: Students spruce up school

Lompoc Record: Mormons lend many helping hands

Fresno Bee: Mormons pitch in to clean up Valley Parks

The Manteca Bulletin: Mormons sprucing up 13 Manteca parks

The Union Tribune: Mormons to lend Helping Hands at state parks

The Redlands Daily Facts: Hundreds expected for citywide service day

The (Orange County) Register: Church members volunteer for park cleanup

The Signal (Santa Clarita Valley): Mormons to lend a hand

KHTS/Hometown Station: Parks to benefit from Mormon day of service

Chico Enterprise Record: Church group lends hands for Oroville, Calif., cleanup

Contra Costa Times: LDS Church organizing park cleanup effort

The Galt Herald: Mormon 'Helping Hands' service day May 8

Ventura County Star: YMCA swim team and 'Mormon Helping Hands' beautify YMCA

Redlands Daily Facts: Hundreds expected for citywide service day

The Mormon Helping Hands program was officially established in 1998, and since then hundreds of thousands of volunteers have donated millions of hours of service to their communities in many parts of the world.

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.